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The Number Coding Scheme (formally known as Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program and more mistakenly referred to as the Color Coding Scheme*) has been an essential know-how for drivers in Metro Manila, Philippines like how a child should know how to count from 1 to 10 before learning new lessons.

The scheme took effect in March 2003 as a new method to curb the high volume of vehicles plying on Metro Manila city roads in order to manage the peak-hour traffic. It's basically a re-implementation of some MMDA rules years earlier with the following original conditions:

4. Makati City and the Municipality of San Juan will implement UVVRP (Number Coding) from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. without window hours for private vehicles.

However, there were some modifications to the scheme during the years and the present terms according to the MMDA are the following (Update as of August 2010April 2011 November 2011). We have the most updated and verified rules:Thanks to Director Vergel De Dios and the Office of MMDA Chairman Inocentes for confirming the following:
1. Makati and Las Pinas.No window hours: Number Coding is in effect from 7am to 7pm!
2. Marikina, Muntinlupa, and Taguig.No number coding. So, feel free to roam around these cities anytime.
3. Pasig City has window hours of 9am to 4pm (note the 1 hour additional to the normal 10-3pm window).
4. Pasay City is implementing Number Coding except on the following roads: Ninoy Aquino Avenue, MIA Road, Domestic Road, Portions of Airport Road, Sales Road, Tramo and portions of Buendia.
5. EDSA, C5, Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, Roxas Blvd (Pasay), all other National, City, and Municipal Roadshave window hours regardless of the city (meaning one can drive via EDSA in Makati any day).
6. For the rest of Metro Manila (Caloocan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Malabon, Navotas, parts of Pasay, Pateros, Quezon City, San Juan, and Valenzuela)number coding is in effect (window hours of 10am-3pm is also observed).
7. UPDATE: Paranaque will have number coding starting December 1, 2011. See the latest newshere.

Number coding is not implemented on weekends. Suspension of number coding is normally observed on national and special holidays and may be stretched to before and/or after those dates depending on the need.

Again, the scheme says for a certain day of the week, some vehicles are prohibited. Specifically: on Mondays, vehicles with plate numbers ending 1 and 2 are not allowed, Tuesdays - 3 and 4, Wednesdays - 5 and 6, Thursdays - 7 and 8, Friday - 9 and 0. See the picture for quick reference.

If your car is not yet registered or does not have any plates yet, MMDA will be basing your coding day on the conduction sticker located at the back of your car.

Note that these rules can change from time to time so to better make sure or to clarify information, call the MMDA Metrobase at 882-4151 to 77 local 213 and 255 or the MMDA hotline 136. Our latest update is based on JuneOctober 2010AprilAugust 2011 October 2012.

*Years before the number coding scheme was implemented, the first traffic management scheme was color coding wherein vehicles are issued stickers to know when they will be banned. This term got stuck into the mind of drivers and thus was used going forward (until now).
**Aside from the vehicles mentioned above, the following are also exempted from the UVVRP: police patrol cars, military vehicles, ambulance, firetrucks, medical practitioner for military relief or emergency purposes, vehicles with diplomatic plates, vehicles with government plates or appropriately approved LTO stickers

comments

Commemorative plates, according to the MMDA Metrobase, ARE NOT excluded in the color coding. Although it's hard for traffic enforcers to see if one disobeys the coding because commemorative plates do not show the last digit, they may flag down randomly or in very traffic-heavy spots. It's advisable to still follow the respective number coding per city.

Hi again Alex, I misread your question - we doublechecked with MMDA Metrobase and they said that national holidays would lift number coding UVVRP - so May 3, tomorrow, there will be no color coding, including Makati.

Hello - just got recent update, number coding is suspended in whole Metro Manila on May 10 election day. For updates on number coding later on, please check our scrolling update sidebar ("Updates in the Metro").

Hi Harold - since NLEX and SLEX still pass through cities in Metro Manila, you will still be subject to number coding so here's some key things to remember. If traveling during your coding day can't be avoided, travel within 10am-3pm in Metro Manila. NLEX touches Valenzuela, Caloocan, and QC; these cities observe coding windows. Then you go to EDSA which is a free zone. Then you go to SLEX and pass through Paranaque (no coding) and Muntinlupa which observes coding window. I think this route is manageable within 6 hours. Honestly, I think you only have trouble with coding when you take an exit during coding. For example, from Isabela, you will take the Balintawak exit. If you happen to get there before 10am or after 3pm, you might be prone to get caught. I dont think the highway patrolmen are in-charge of coding, but if an MMDA or QC traffic enforcer sees your car, you might be in trouble. On the other hand, if you pass by SLEX going south, no one will be able to catch you since it's the highway already. :) so to summarize: travel within 10am-3pm in Metro Manila and you are more prone to get caught if you are coming in than going out of Metro Manila, so just make sure you get into Metro Manila within 10am-3pm. Hope this helps!

Hi, Fort Bonifacio area under Taguig has number coding but it has window hours from 10am to 3pm. Makati portion (Kalayaan Ave. area) does not have window hours so coding from 7am to 7pm.

Anonymous
said...

Hi,

In the answer posted on May 12 EDSA has window hours, but in the answer on May 18 you state EDSA is a free zone, so is EDSA free all day or only in the window hours?On http://www.mmda.gov.ph/windowhr.html it states that for example EDSA is exempted from UVVRP, but on your page above you state that it only is open during window hours, so what is correct.Please be so kind to clairify.

Hi bingmec2887! yes - Makati does not have number coding tomorrow. For further MMDA updates on number coding during holidays, you can consult the Updates in the Metro section on the sidebar (upper left). Hope this helps!

Hi Amy - we will try to get MMDA to clear this up. For the past months, we were told that Taguig follows 10am-3pm window. Kindly send an email to feedback AT metromaniladirections.com so we can update you directly together with our update in this article.

Is it true that the Window hours(10am to 3pm) of the Number coding is already suspended (until further notic) effective August 2. 2010? Meaning, there is no more Window ahours anywhere effected this date? Please confirm.

Is it true that the Window hours(10am to 3pm) of the Number coding is already suspended (until further notice) effective August 2. 2010? Meaning, there is no more Window ahours anywhere effective this date? Please confirm.

Great site! Thanks for the updates and the patience in answering queries.

I have some of my own-

1. Are Andrews Ave and Roxas Blvd (the segment within Pasay City) part of the number coding scheme? I ask this because, at least up until the time of Mayor Peewee Trinidad this May 2010, I saw "NC" signs posted along these two roads- NC meaning No Coding. Do you have info regarding the supposed NC status of these two roads?

2. I ask because I know the Pasay segment of Roxas is NC BUT as soon as I cross into the Manila segment of Roxas Blvd, I can now be caught by the MMDA on duty. I WAS caught once at the corner of Quirino and Roxas sometime in 2009 at around 8am.

So I'm sort of confused: I can go through Roxas' Pasay City segment at any time but as soon as I go past the CCP- for example- on the non-window hours, I can be caught/fined by the MMDA? Even if it's just one and the same road?

Roxas Blvd is covered by the MMDA number coding scheme. Basically, it has window hours regardless of the cities where it passes through. It is like EDSA, which does not care about the no-window hour rule in Makati. You can pass by EDSA-Makati as long as it is between 9am to 3pm.

To cut the explanation short, we believe that Roxas Blvd follows MMDA coding scheme. I am not sure why you were caught by MMDAs in Manila but maybe Pasay MMDAs are not located in Roxas Blvd when you passed by that area.

Hi, I live in Fort Bonifacio and my son goes to Colegio San Agustin in Dasmarinas Village in Makati. I have to fetch my son at 12:30pm. Is the number coding scheme applicable to the route I will be taking --- The Fort, McKinley then inside Dasmarinas Village? Thanks

Is the number coding window of 10am - 3pm observed in the whole stretch of Edsa (Monumento, Caloocan to Pasay)?

Anonymous
said...

Hello,

I just wanna ask if I'll get caught on a Friday (with a plate number of 0) if I'll go to Marikina using the following route: Mall of Asia (Pasay) - EDSA - White Plains (via QC) - Katipunan Ave. - Marikina?

I'm driving a car with a plate number ending with a 9... my route will be East service road(taguig city)-villamor airbase-baclaran-roxas blvd.-kalaw ave. will I be caught? do you think my route will be free from color coding? thanks

Hi there! This site i really helpful. I was told that there are no window time for Alabang Zapote road. I'll be coming from Quezon City, will I get caught if I exit through Filinvest going to Alabang Town Center?

Would it be possible to have a sticky at the top of this blog, showing a map of Manila showing the main roads and coloured to show the different all-day, the window and of course those roads which allowed all day?? I live outside Manila, but I am forced to travel there on occasion, and I always get confused which are the good roads I can use when I am restricted...

hello we're from baguio and we are planning to go to pampangga then manila on the 21 of dec.our plate number ends with 2.will there'll be suspension of color coding from dec. 18-30?because of the holidays?tnx very much..Godbless

hi, my mom told me that she thought she saw a sign board along buendia going inside the CBD area that says there's a 10am-3pm window in makati? is this true? i thought makati has no window hours. thanks.

Hi Del - yes, kapag wala kang plaka, conduction number ang ginagamit. Your agent should have told you that. And your agent should also be pressured to give you your plate already. 1.5 months is too long for you to wait.

Hi! I would like to know if color coding is in effect in the vicinity of Pacita Complex in San Pedro thru SM Muntinlupa up to Muntinlupa Cityhall? I'll be coming from GMA Cavite via Binan Laguna route. Please advise, thank you in advance.

Why is there no coding for motorcycles? They are, after all, motor vehicles as well. And with their growing sheer number, they are space occupying lesions on the already clogged streets of metro manila! What exempts them from the number coding scheme? They have license plates also!

So if I was coming off the SLEX in Makati and going straight onto Pres. Osmena Highway onto Pres. Quirino in Quezon after 10.00 but before 15.00hrs then on that short stretch off road is where I could be caught?? on the day I am coded??

@kid at heart - same question. We can ask MMDA about it. But i think the number of cars really outnumber motorcycles maybe by ten-fold so there's no need to impose coding there yet. We cannot impose to motorcycles if we havent cleaned and tried perfecting cars/vehicles yet.

hello! i'm going to sanctuario de san antonio in taguig tomorrow (dec. 28, 2010), and my car is affected by the number coding. so from malabon, i'll be passing monumento taking edsa to C5 going taguig, as per your description on number coding, i can pass by the mentioned places, am i correct?

Why do there have to be variations with coding regulations among cities and municipalities around the metro? Only creates confusion! If that's the case then better get the word "Metro" off MMDA! Obvious political insecurities, Geez!

How about if you will pass by C5-Makati, 10am to 3pm will you get caught? Because we will be going to Santa Rosa Laguna, Enchanted Kingdom, How can I avoid getting caught by the Makati Police/Traffic Aid.

im from bulacan my car is coding tomorrow (thursday) im going to airport. what time is the best for me to travel? ... i must be in Naia terminal 1 at 8pm

Is it safe for me to take this route going to NAIA term 1? Edsa> flyover, Aurora Boulevard>Right turn to airport road> left to airport rd , landmarks Petron MiA car check , right to zest airways, going straight to NAIA Terminal 1..

THANKS in ADNVAce

Anonymous
said...

I am a foreigner who will be renting a car from Hertz or Avis. Are rental cars exempted from this? I will be travelling around Makati and Manila and other days from Makati to Pampanga ( via EDSA and North expressway) to Lipa, Batangas ( via North Express way to EDSA to South Expressway). The problem is that I need to get to where I am going in the morning and may be driving before 10am and after 3pm. If my rental is number coded for that day, is it my fault? I think there should be an exemption for car rentals?

Hi, which part of Fort Bonifacio is affected by Makati no window scheme? I was told that there's an intersection where MMDA waits for violators.. and it's just a crossing.I'll be coming from Bayani Road going to First Street.

Hi. I've been reading the posts and am more confused. The MMDA post says EDSA and the national roads observe window hours. Now you say they are not. The MMDA post says Taguig does not observe the coding scheme (along with Paranaque) but as I read down readers' comments, you say Taguig is subject to coding. I've noted the MMDA post in my cellphone as guide but reading the readers' comments and your answers reveal different info. What is my guide now?

Hi, I live her in Cagayan de Oro city and I’m having my new job in Manila. I don’t really know any thing about this number coding scheme until I’ve read those messages. I was planning to bring my motorcycle with me along and it has an ending number of (6).My question is what I should do first for my motorcycle to be a law abiding vehicle in terms of this number coding scheme. Do I have to register to a certain government agency like MMDA, or do I have to transfer my vehicles registrations address from Cagayan De Oro to Manila, or do I have to register again at LTO Manila even if I’m already registered this year in my home town of Cagayan De Oro city? What should I do first???I really need your help; Manila has different way of doing their traffic compare to other city. As like other ordinary people, I’m afraid that some corrupt enforcer or LTO agent might make money out of me even no traffic law was violated.

Hi, Just like to know if i would still be caught for color coding if i drive during window hours:Route1: manila to naia 3, via taft then osmena then skyway (Im afraid il get caught around osmena)Route2: Naia 3 to ortigas, via skyway then buendia then edsa ( im entering makati thru gil puyat, is it ok?)

Please help me clarify. Thank you very much. I dont know any alternative routes so if you could tell me another one when theres window hours, that would be great. Thank you

I went to Manila today with a friend in his car, he was colour coded for today or whatever its called, when I advised him he would be stopped, he said he was a pensioner, and would show his driving licence if stopped, as the ban does not apply to him???Is there any truth in this??? if so does this also apply to foreign residents

4. Makati City and the Municipality of San Juan will implement UVVRP (Number Coding) from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. without window hours for private vehicles.

however there is another entry which states that:6. For the rest of Metro Manila (Caloocan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Malabon, Navotas, parts of Pasay, Pateros, Quezon City, San Juan, and Valenzuela) number coding is in effect (window hours of 10am-3pm is also

good morning...my car is coding on the 4th of november...im going to the airport from bacoor cavite around 7 in the morning..will i be safe as i pass thu coastal then right turn to the side of park 'n fly? i'm not familiar of the road's name...un po b ang MIA road?

Just want to ask I am a operator of taxi but I only have one. it has an ending plate of 3 so it falls on nov. 1, 2011. the number coding is lifted at that time but can a public like taxi can travel anywhere in metro manila. we need a service on that day so we can visit our love ones in memorial park. thanks

From San Fernando will take NLEX then Balintawak EDSA will exit in Aurora Blvd. then Airport Road then domestic road naia road all the way to NAIA will this route obderve the window hours of 10-3? Thanks..